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| {{Cast Data | | {{Cast Data |
| | image = bsg-dd-2.jpg | | | image = bsg-dd-2.jpg |
| | character = [[Sesha Abinell]] | | | character= [[Sesha Abinell]] |
| | series = RDM
| | | born_day= 13 |
| | born_day = 13 | | | born_month= 3 |
| | born_month = 3 | | | born_year= 1956 |
| | born_year = 1956 | | | nationality= US |
| | nationality = US | | | imdb= 0001127 |
| | site = http://www.danadelany.com/
| | }} |
| | imdb = 0001127 | | |
| | sortkey = Delany, Dana
| | '''Dana Welles Delany''' is an American film, stage, and television actress. Most people know her as the voice of [[Wikipedia:Lois Lane|Lois Lane]] in the cartoons ''Superman'', ''Batman'', and ''Justice League''. She played terrorist [[Sesha Abinell]] in the ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' episode ''[[Sacrifice]]''. She has had a colorful career spanning three decades. |
| |image2=Sesha.jpg}}
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| '''Dana Welles Delany''' (born March 13, 1956) is an American film, stage, and television actress who played [[Sesha Abinell]], a widowed civilian who leads an armed seizure of the [[Starlight Lounge]], in the ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' episode "[[Sacrifice]]" (2006). | | Delany was born on March 13, 1956 in New York, New York, and raised in Stamford, Connecticut. After graduating from Wesleyan University, she moved to New York to get into television and theater. Her first pivotal role was for the TV series, ''China Beach'' (1988-1991), for which she earned 3 Emmy nominations and 2 Emmy awards. She later starred in feature films. |
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| | == External links == |
| | * [http://www.danadelany.com/ Dana Delany Official Website] |
| | {{ext-wikipedia|article=Dana Delany|Dana Delany}} |
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| Born in New York City and raised in [[w:Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford, Connecticut]],<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_delany_born_raised">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/dana-delany#:~:text=Growing%20up%20in%20Stamford%2C%20Connecticut|title=Dana Delany|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> she earned two [[w:Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series|Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]] for her starring role as Army nurse [[w:Colleen McMurphy|Colleen McMurphy]] on ''[[w:China Beach|China Beach]]'' (ABC, 1988–1991),<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_delany_china_beach_emmy_wins">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/dana-delany#:~:text=Delany%20won%20two%20Primetime%20Emmy%20Awards%20(in%201989%20and%201992)%20for%20her%20lead%20role%20as%20nurse%20Colleen%20McMurphy|title=Dana Delany – Emmy Awards and Nominations|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> and is recognized as the voice of [[w:Lois Lane|Lois Lane]] across multiple animated DC productions.
| | [[Category:A to Z|Delany, Dana]] |
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| | [[Category:Cast|Delany, Dana]] |
| == Career ==
| | [[Category:Cast (RDM)|Delany, Dana]] |
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| | [[Category:RDM|Delany, Dana]] |
| Delany attended [[w:Phillips Academy|Phillips Academy]] in Andover, Massachusetts for her senior year of secondary school, where she was a member of the institution's first co-educational class.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_delany_phillips_academy_coed">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/dana-delany#:~:text=attended%20Phillips%20Academy%20in%20Andover%2C%20Massachusetts%2C%20for%20her%20senior%20year%20and%20was%20a%20member%20of%20the%20school%27s%20first%20co-educational%20class|title=Dana Delany|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> She then majored in theater at [[w:Wesleyan University|Wesleyan University]], working summer stock productions during vacations before graduating in 1978.<ref group="external" name="parade_delany_wesleyan_1978_graduation">{{cite web|url=https://parade.com/entertainment/beloved-90s-actress-whose-career-spans-6-decades-turns-70#:~:text=graduating%20from%20Wesleyan%20University%20in%201978|title=Beloved '90s Actress, Whose Career Spans 6 Decades, Turns 70|author=Lindain, Liz|publisher=Parade|date=13 March 2026|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>
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| After graduating, Delany returned to New York City, where she took roles in the daytime soap operas ''[[w:Love of Life|Love of Life]]'' and ''[[w:As the World Turns|As the World Turns]]'' and appeared in television commercials.<ref group="external" name="parade_delany_soap_operas_commercials">{{cite web|url=https://parade.com/entertainment/beloved-90s-actress-whose-career-spans-6-decades-turns-70#:~:text=daytime%20soap%20operas%20like%20Love%20of%20Life%20and%20As%20the%20World%20Turns%2C%20as%20well%20as%20starred%20in%20commercials%20for%20Wisk%20laundry%20detergent|title=Beloved '90s Actress, Whose Career Spans 6 Decades, Turns 70|author=Lindain, Liz|publisher=Parade|date=13 March 2026|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> On stage, she made her Broadway debut in [[w:Hugh Leonard|Hugh Leonard]]'s ''[[w:A Life (play)|A Life]]''<ref group="external" name="parade_delany_broadway_a_life">{{cite web|url=https://parade.com/entertainment/beloved-90s-actress-whose-career-spans-6-decades-turns-70#:~:text=starred%20in%20the%20Broadway%20show%20A%20Life|title=Beloved '90s Actress, Whose Career Spans 6 Decades, Turns 70|author=Lindain, Liz|publisher=Parade|date=13 March 2026|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> and received notice for off-Broadway productions, including [[w:Nicholas Kazan|Nicholas Kazan]]'s ''Blood Moon'' (1983), which led her to relocate to Los Angeles.<ref group="external" name="imdb_delany_bio_blood_moon_la">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001127/bio/#:~:text=Nicholas%20Kazan%27s%20controversial%20%22Bloodmoon%22%20in%20New%20York%20led%20her%20to%20Hollywood|title=Dana Delany – Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> In Hollywood, she accumulated guest-starring credits on ''[[w:Moonlighting (TV series)|Moonlighting]]'', ''[[w:Magnum, P.I.|Magnum, P.I.]]'', and ''[[w:thirtysomething|thirtysomething]]''.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_delany_guest_credits_la">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/dana-delany#:~:text=guest%20starring%20in%20TV%20shows%20like%20Moonlighting%2C%20Magnum%2C%20P.I.%2C%20and%20thirtysomething|title=Dana Delany|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>
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| In 1988, Delany was cast as Army nurse [[w:Colleen McMurphy|Colleen McMurphy]] on ABC's Vietnam War drama ''[[w:China Beach|China Beach]]'', a role she played through the series' 1991 finale. The Television Academy nominated her for [[w:Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]] in each of the show's four seasons, with wins in 1989 and 1992.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_delany_china_beach_four_seasons_nominations">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/dana-delany#:~:text=Outstanding%20Lead%20Actress%20In%20A%20Drama%20Series%20-%201989|title=Dana Delany – Emmy Awards and Nominations|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>
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| Following ''China Beach'', Delany worked in feature films through the 1990s, with roles in ''[[w:Light Sleeper|Light Sleeper]]'' (1992), ''[[w:Tombstone (film)|Tombstone]]'' (1993), ''[[w:Exit to Eden (film)|Exit to Eden]]'' (1994), and ''[[w:Fly Away Home|Fly Away Home]]'' (1996),<ref group="external" name="imdb_delany_1990s_film_credits">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001127/#:~:text=Light%20Sleeper|title=Dana Delany|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> along with television films including ''The Margaret Sanger Story'' (1995) and ''[[w:True Women (film)|True Women]]'' (1997).
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| In 2001, the Television Academy nominated Delany for [[w:Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series]] for her performance as Mary Sullivan in CBS's ''[[w:Family Law (TV series)|Family Law]]''—her fifth career Emmy nomination.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_delany_family_law_2001_nomination">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/dana-delany#:~:text=Outstanding%20Guest%20Actress%20In%20A%20Drama%20Series%20-%202001|title=Dana Delany – Emmy Awards and Nominations|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref><ref group="external" name="variety_delany_five_emmy_nominee_tally">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/taylor-sheridan-tulsa-king-paramount-plus-cast-dana-delany-1235298854#:~:text=five-time%20Emmy%20Award%20nominee%20and%20a%20two-time%20Emmy%20winner|title=Taylor Sheridan's 'Tulsa King' Adds Dana Delany to Cast|publisher=Variety|date=22 September 2022|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> She also took lead roles in the short-lived Fox drama ''[[w:Pasadena (TV series)|Pasadena]]'' (2001) and the CBS medical series ''[[w:Presidio Med|Presidio Med]]'' (2002–2003).
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| In February 2006, Delany appeared as [[Sesha Abinell]] in the ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' episode "[[Sacrifice]]", written by [[Anne Cofell Saunders]] and directed by [[Reynaldo Villalobos]], which aired on the Sci Fi Channel on February 10, 2006.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sacrifice_episode_2006_delany">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0519783/#:~:text=A%20terrorist%20attacks%20and%20holds%20several%20key%20people%20hostage|title=Battlestar Galactica: "Sacrifice" (2006)|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> Abinell is a widow whose husband was killed in a Cylon attack; convinced that the fleet is harboring a Cylon agent, she and a small group seize the Cloud Nine lounge and take [[Lee Adama|Apollo]], [[Billy Keikeya]], and [[Ellen Tigh]] hostage, demanding that [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] be surrendered to them. Delany also appeared in a recurring role during the abbreviated run of the NBC thriller ''[[w:Kidnapped (TV series)|Kidnapped]]'' (2006–2007).
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| In 2007, Delany joined the cast of the ABC comedy-drama ''[[w:Desperate Housewives|Desperate Housewives]]'' as Katherine Mayfair, remaining with the series until 2010 and returning for a 2012 guest appearance.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_delany_desperate_housewives_joined_2007">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/dana-delany#:~:text=In%202007%2C%20Delany%20joined%20the%20cast%20of%20ABC%27s%20Desperate%20Housewives%2C%20playing%20housewife%20Katherine%20Mayfair|title=Dana Delany|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> She then led the ABC medical drama ''[[w:Body of Proof|Body of Proof]]'' (2011–2013) as Dr. Megan Hunt, a former neurosurgeon who, after losing the use of her hands in an accident, transitions to forensic pathology, and played Crystal Harris across 20 episodes of the [[w:Amazon Prime Video|Amazon]] drama ''[[w:Hand of God (TV series)|Hand of God]]'' (2014–2017).<ref group="external" name="imdb_delany_body_proof_hand_god_credits">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001127/#:~:text=Hand%20of%20God|title=Dana Delany|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>
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| In November 2022, Delany joined the [[w:Paramount+|Paramount+]] crime drama ''[[w:Tulsa King|Tulsa King]]'', created by [[w:Taylor Sheridan|Taylor Sheridan]], as Margaret Devereaux, an equestrian and horse farm owner who sits on the board of the Annie Oakley Society.<ref group="external" name="variety_delany_tulsa_king_margaret_devereaux_role">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/taylor-sheridan-tulsa-king-paramount-plus-cast-dana-delany-1235298854#:~:text=Delany%20will%20play%20Margaret%2C%20an%20affluent%20and%20influential%20equestrian%20and%20owner%20of%20a%20sprawling%20horse%20farm|title=Taylor Sheridan's 'Tulsa King' Adds Dana Delany to Cast|publisher=Variety|date=22 September 2022|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> She appeared in 29 episodes across the series' first three seasons (2022–2025).<ref group="external" name="imdb_delany_tulsa_king_29_eps">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001127/#:~:text=Tulsa%20King%202022|title=Dana Delany|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> In 2024, she also appeared in the [[w:Netflix|Netflix]] action comedy film ''[[w:The Union (2024 film)|The Union]]'' and in five episodes of the [[w:FX (TV channel)|FX]] drama ''[[w:Mayans M.C.|Mayans M.C.]]''<ref group="external" name="imdb_delany_union_mayans_2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001127/#:~:text=Mayans%20M.C.|title=Dana Delany|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>
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| She has hosted the [[w:Television Academy Honors|Television Academy Honors]] on ten occasions since the event's founding.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_delany_honors_host_ten">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/dana-delany#:~:text=served%20as%20host%20of%20the%20Television%20Academy%20Honors%20ten%20times%20since%20its%20inception|title=Dana Delany|publisher=Television Academy|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>
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| === Voice acting ===
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| In 1993, Delany voiced Andrea Beaumont, Bruce Wayne's childhood sweetheart, in the animated theatrical film ''[[w:Batman: Mask of the Phantasm|Batman: Mask of the Phantasm]]''.<ref group="external" name="imdb_delany_batman_phantasm_andrea_beaumont">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001127/#:~:text=Batman%3A%20Mask%20of%20the%20Phantasm|title=Dana Delany|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> Beginning in 1996, she voiced [[w:Lois Lane|Lois Lane]] across all three seasons of ''[[w:Superman: The Animated Series|Superman: The Animated Series]]'', and went on to reprise the role in ''[[w:Justice League (TV series)|Justice League]]'' (2001–2004), ''[[w:Justice League Unlimited|Justice League Unlimited]]'' (2004–2006), and ''[[w:The Batman (TV series)|The Batman]]'' (2004–2008), as well as in the direct-to-video animated features ''[[w:Superman: Brainiac Attacks|Superman: Brainiac Attacks]]'' (2006) and ''[[w:Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox|Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox]]'' (2013).<ref group="external" name="imdb_delany_lois_lane_dc_animated_career">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001127/#:~:text=Superman%3A%20The%20Animated%20Series|title=Dana Delany|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>
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| == Personal life ==
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| Since the mid-1990s, Delany has served on the board of the [[w:Scleroderma Research Foundation|Scleroderma Research Foundation]].<ref group="external" name="parade_delany_scleroderma_foundation_board">{{cite web|url=https://parade.com/entertainment/beloved-90s-actress-whose-career-spans-6-decades-turns-70#:~:text=long-standing%20role%20on%20the%20board%20of%20the%20Scleroderma%20Research%20Foundation|title=Beloved '90s Actress, Whose Career Spans 6 Decades, Turns 70|author=Lindain, Liz|publisher=Parade|date=13 March 2026|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> Her involvement was partly prompted by her portrayal of a scleroderma patient in ''For Hope'' (1996), a television film directed by [[w:Bob Saget|Bob Saget]].<ref group="external" name="parade_delany_for_hope_scleroderma_bob_saget">{{cite web|url=https://parade.com/entertainment/beloved-90s-actress-whose-career-spans-6-decades-turns-70#:~:text=playing%20a%20scleroderma%20patient%20in%20the%20film%20For%20Hope%2C%20directed%20by%20the%20late%20Bob%20Saget|title=Beloved '90s Actress, Whose Career Spans 6 Decades, Turns 70|author=Lindain, Liz|publisher=Parade|date=13 March 2026|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>
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| == References ==
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| === External Sources ===
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| {{reflist|group=external}}
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